>Instead of doing a book nizer came up with another idea, he
>emailed me about it.
>I'm surprized he didn't make a post of it, to tell you all.

Okay Bruneau, you forced my hand. It's long and I didn't want to impose such a lengthy tome upon the board. Anyway, here is the text of the email I sent you (and Pappy, at your request):

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Bruneau,

Yes, I am serious. I would be willing to help to
create something that would be a collection of
information and content from the BRB and available to
the public.

However, I don't think that a book is the way to go,
at least not to start. It's too expensive and a
logistical nightmare. I think it would be better to do
something online.

I do have extensive experience in publishing and even
more experience in the Internet. I think the content
from the Big Road Blues forum is ideal for a Web-based
publication. There are many reasons for this - cost,
less complicated, the distributed nature of the
members, the general move from print-based to online
publishing, the ease up adding new content, etc. Trust
me on this, I know both businesses.

Personally, I think the BRB is in the position to be the global leader in Blues content and information. Through the Internet,
BRB could supply not just written content, but the
music itself. BRB Internet Radio could stream Blues
programming 24/7, including interviews, recordings and
live concerts. Here are some examples:

The difference is that BRB would be able to supply
original, exclusive music content from its members as
well as reviews, tutorials, etc. The growth of
Podcasting, the quality of content on BRB and the
general global shift toward internet-based publishing
and broadcasting lead me to this conclusion. I have
some experience with online radio as well and more
ideas on this topic.

However, that is a longer-term program. In the
meantime, back to your original idea. I have a pretty
good idea of how to create, distribute and market an
online publication. The main problems, initially, are
business related and would have to be sorted out
before anything could be produced. Specifically, we
would need to determine:
- who "owns" the BRB?
- is there any incorporated organization or business?
- what is the relationship between the forum and the
company that hosts it (Coast to Coast?)?
- how could we secure permission to use the forum
content?
- how could we create or access the business and
technical infrastructure for secure, verifiable
transactions?

This is all leading to one main question: what is the
business model? To me, any project like this would have to be
based on the premise that it could create revenues
greater than its costs. That is a mandatory
requirement. Furthermore, I would suggest that any revenue generated would be solely used to finance the BRB itself. No BRB
properties would create profit for individuals. In the
future some specific services may be paid for,
provided that they are directly related to the BRB
and, of couse, are taken from profit, not just
revenue.

Bruneau, is there a "board of directors" or some kind
of executive committee that oversees the forum? Who
are they? We would need to start there to get the
above questions answered. If it turns out to be
feasible, we would then ask for volunteers with
specific skill sets (i.e. copyright law,
writers/editors, online application design and
development, acccounting, etc.)

None of this precludes the printing of a book at some
later date.

Nizer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So that's it. A bit grandiose perhaps, but I have no doubt about the value of the stuff here. But it would be a ton of work and we all know how volunteer projects usually go...nowhere.

Back to the topic, I have also found out that our supply of knowledgable,helpful members is still being re-supplied. Mukluk,a newbie, has been very helpful to me, in a timely way, with info. and input- and is no newbie to equipment issues. Chuck does good work,gang!

[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-14-05 AT 08:20 PM (EST)]My input may not be worth anything, if not, sorry. In 1998 a friend and I designed something (not music related). We made a website about it. We started a forum. It exploded. If you fly R/C model airplanes, you may know who I was in my past life. The fourm was getting 100's of posts a day. The web site was getting thousands of hits a day from all over the world. Everyone was urging me to write a book. People were trying to capitolize on our ideas. A magazine hired a writer and we had a monthly column. CD's and videos were made and sold. Webring hub. At one time there were 14 small companies selling our ideas. It was hell. It was burn out. As soon as a third or 4th or more persons got involved in anything...disagreements started. The second any type of money was involved, there were differences and things went to crap. There were even break away underground forum groups formed. There were round the clock e-mails, phone calls, sides formed, wars, friends became ememies etc...etc. It all peaked in 2003, and in 2004 my friend and I walked away from it. We gave it all away. We handed it all over to a few of the people we still trusted. We didn't realize what we had, until it all got out of hand. It still exists. The forums is still there. The explosion and hype and publications and products are all long gone. The book never got writtian. It's back to what it started as. An extreamly informative tightly knit group of like minded people in an internet community. We realize now what made it cool way back then. It's because it was an ideal. It was alive on a daily basis. A frame of mind. A daily interaction. A way of thinking. It lived and breathed. As soon as we, or anyone tried to capture or exploit any of it, freeze it, bottle it, can it, produce it, or sell it...it all went to ##### because of human nature. Does any of this apply here? I don't know. In fact I won't object if you'all delete this...no prob. It's just that when I saw the words "write a book" (ect...) in conjunction with a successfull website/forum, the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. Some of you guys might be very close, and think you know eachother very well. Try to organize something this wonderfull into something more, especially if it involves multiple ideas, time, web space, time, more time, and especially money...and it's amazing how that changes. I promise this is the only thing I'll volunteer to this topic. Gotta go jam...I love BRB just the way it is.

I have been reading this and watching with interest even though I haven't yet posted on the subject. I tend to agree with many of the points 1four5 brought up. I think a better idea is to somehow make sure that everything here is archived in a safe manner, leave the idea of a book alone, and see that the forum continues on in the manner it was intended. I'd hate to see the many friendships splinter because of the idea of a book. If all the posts in these forums can be safely archived, the information will exist for anyone who wants it, and it takes the money factor of buying/selling a book completely out of the equation, and by doing that, what we have will continue to be what it has been for so long.

[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-15-05 AT 11:28 AM (EST)]Just to be clear, my original post was a simple statement of gratitude. I never intended to propose changing the BRB or write a business proposal. I did think that Bruneau deserved a considered response, especially after I blasted him rather rudely. Again, I never intended to post that either.

Do I sound a little defensive? Well, I have a lot of respect for you people and what you've created and wouldn't be so presumptuous as to suggest changing anything. I agree with Blueswriter and 1four5. Maybe Pappy can take a few ideas and use them. But that's his business - literally.

nizer, just because 2 or 3 negative responses, does'nt mean the idea stinks, there are good points in it. I came up with the idea of doing a book and IMO you came up with a better proposal. Maybe other members do like your idea. And as you said it's PappyJ's business and make a decision.

I haven't been on BRB and posting much lately and have missed a lot. The subject of this thread is "An Appreciation of the Board." I have made new friends, learned interesting perspectives on the Blues, made some very good CDs purchases, learned from knowledgeable posts, found out about Cigar Box Guitars and the list goes on and on from things I have learned on this forum.

I want to thank Pappy and all who contribute to make this board what it is.

[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-20-05 AT 08:02 AM (EST)]I miss Doc Mojo.... enjoy what it is for what it is. If you feel the need to archive anything for your own good from the forums, then knock your self up a little word doc and save it to your own machine.

I hereby give you permission to use anything that I have said, no payment is necessary. Just tip the paperboy, that's enough for me.